4 replies to this topic

[Robert Angell]

I have a knocking noise coming from the front strut when the front wheel unweights. I recently had 1 spring seat replaced and this sounds like the other one is making a similar noise. The noise just started and is intermittent. How can you determine if this is the problem and how do you replace the spring seat

[pfeener]

Sounds like it may be the other spring seat. There's a couple of ways you can check it out. Looking at it from the top, in the engine compartment, there's a large rubber bumper/washer under the large nut on the end of the strut piston. There should be 1/4 inch or so of clearance between the bottom of the bumper and the mounting bracket. If it's down flush it's broken. With the car in it's normal position (not jacked up) you can remove the large center nut on top and remove the rubber bumper and look down in at the spring seat. If it's broken, you'll see the center all chewed up and cracked loose from the outside piece.

It's cheap enough to buy and not all that hard to change out. You'll need a spring compressor, which can be bought for $30 - 40 or you can get one for free from Auto Zone on their loaner program. To change out the seat, jack up the car, remove the tire, remove the 2 bottom bolts holding the strut to the wheel hub, remove the 3 top bolts in the engine compartment and remove the strut assembly from the car. Compress the spring and remove the top nuts and the bumper and mount comes off along with the spring seat. Do a search on this site and you'll get lots of detailed info.

Here's a link to a diagram from the FCPgroton site.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo850shocks.htm

[prasamin]

Sounds like it may be the other spring seat. There's a couple of ways you can check it out. Looking at it from the top, in the engine compartment, there's a large rubber bumper/washer under the large nut on the end of the strut piston. There should be 1/4 inch or so of clearance between the bottom of the bumper and the mounting bracket. If it's down flush it's broken. With the car in it's normal position (not jacked up) you can remove the large center nut on top and remove the rubber bumper and look down in at the spring seat. If it's broken, you'll see the center all chewed up and cracked loose from the outside piece.

It's cheap enough to buy and not all that hard to change out. You'll need a spring compressor, which can be bought for $30 - 40 or you can get one for free from Auto Zone on their loaner program. To change out the seat, jack up the car, remove the tire, remove the 2 bottom bolts holding the strut to the wheel hub, remove the 3 top bolts in the engine compartment and remove the strut assembly from the car. Compress the spring and remove the top nuts and the bumper and mount comes off along with the spring seat. Do a search on this site and you'll get lots of detailed info.

Here's a link to a diagram from the FCPgroton site.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo850shocks.htm

you forgot to mention that you have to unbolt the sway bar link if there is one (the top bolt), and also pull the brake wiring from the brackets very gently and keep them out of the way when pulling the strut out and putting it back in. You may have to fidget with raising/lowering a jack under the control arm to work the sway bar link out of the strut.

[pfeener]

Thanks, good catch. I knew it sounded too simple, but I couldn't thing of what I was missing.

Here's a great link with pictures and description on changing the strut.

http://members.shaw.ca/heeeeee/strut/

[Robert Angell]

Just wanted to thank everyone in this Forum. If it weren't for you guys I would have burnt the Volvo to the ground a long time ago. Got to love them if we can put up with the unreliability